Politics 101

Before WWII there were many who Admired the Great Things Authoritative and Charismatic Dictators were Doing

The Nazi Party is one of the most documented rises of totalitarianism. A system of government where everything and everyone is subordinated to the state. Where the state comes first. And the people are expendable. Ruled by a single person. A charismatic leader. Who the people pledge their allegiance to. And follow obediently to the ends of the earth. We can learn a lot by studying what happened in Nazi Germany about the quest for absolute power. For though party ideology may differ the path to that party is eerily similar wherever, and whenever, you look.

Of course, some are infatuated by an all-powerful state. Not for the crimes against their people. But what an all-powerful state can do. Where enlightened individuals can do what’s best for the people without having to deal with a political opposition. Just read what one beloved world leader wrote about Adolf Hitler prior to the outbreak of hostilities that embroiled the world in World War II:

Other musings concern how great the autobahns were – ‘the best roads in the world’ – and how, having visited Hitler’s Bavarian holiday home in Berchtesgaden and the tea house built on top of the mountain for him.

He declared; ‘Who has visited these two places can easily imagine how Hitler will emerge from the hatred currently surrounding him to emerge in a few years as one of the most important personalities that ever lived.’

This was written just a few years before Hitler invaded Poland. Up until the war broke out there were many who admired the great things authoritative and charismatic leaders were doing. Mussolini made the trains run on time. And FDR was so smitten with Joseph Stalin and the great things he was doing in the Soviet Union that it broke his heart when the Soviets signed a non-aggression pact with the Nazis. Allowing the invasion of Poland. And starting World War II. While splitting up Poland between the Nazis and the communists. Basically removing Poland from the map.

The Left has used the Expanding Size of the Federal Government to Harass and Silence their Political Enemies

This is why Nazi Germany is so interesting as a study in politics. For the Nazis rose to power within the political process. They won elections. And then used their legitimate powers to expand their power. Often helped by the clever use of propaganda. Misinformation. And brutal criminal acts. Which becomes easier to do as your powers grow. And you place yourself above the law. And become a nation of a charismatic ruler. Instead of a nation of laws.

With the recent scandals of the Obama administration (Benghazi, the obstruction of free speech, the persecution of conservatives, etc.) some are making comparisons to Watergate. While some even go so far as to compare it to Nazi Germany. Of course, President Obama and the Democrats are NOT Nazis. In fact, they are diametrically opposed to much Nazi ideology. Just to give one example take immigration. The Nazis believed in a pure Germanic race and opposed immigration of non-Germans. While Democrats want to throw open the borders. So the left are not Nazis. But if you read the 25 points of the Nazi Party platform of 1920 you will see that the left employs many of the same tools to rise to power as the Nazis—and all totalitarian regimes—used in their rise to power. Here are some of the 25 points.

9. All citizens must have equal rights and obligations.

12. In consideration of the monstrous sacrifice in property and blood that each war demands of the people personal enrichment through a war must be designated as a crime against the people. Therefore we demand the total confiscation of all war profits.

13. We demand the nationalization of all (previous) associated industries (trusts).

15. We demand an expansion on a large scale of old age welfare.

16. We demand the creation of a healthy middle class and its conservation, immediate communalization of the great warehouses and their being leased at low cost to small firms, the utmost consideration of all small firms in contracts with the State, county or municipality.

18. We demand struggle without consideration against those whose activity is injurious to the general interest. Common national criminals, usurers, Schieber and so forth are to be punished with death, without consideration of confession or race.

20. The state is to be responsible for a fundamental reconstruction of our whole national education program, to enable every capable and industrious German to obtain higher education and subsequently introduction into leading positions. The plans of instruction of all educational institutions are to conform with the experiences of practical life. The comprehension of the concept of the State must be striven for by the school [Staatsbuergerkunde] as early as the beginning of understanding. We demand the education at the expense of the State of outstanding intellectually gifted children of poor parents without consideration of position or profession.

23. We demand legal opposition to known lies and their promulgation through the press. In order to enable the provision of a German press, we demand, that:

a. All writers and employees of the newspapers appearing in the German language be members of the race:

b. Non-German newspapers be required to have the express permission of the State to be published. They may not be printed in the German language:

c. Non-Germans are forbidden by law any financial interest in German publications, or any influence on them, and as punishment for violations the closing of such a publication as well as the immediate expulsion from the Reich of the non-German concerned. Publications which are counter to the general good are to be forbidden. We demand legal prosecution of artistic and literary forms which exert a destructive influence on our national life, and the closure of organizations opposing the above made demands.

25. For the execution of all of this we demand the formation of a strong central power in the Reich. Unlimited authority of the central parliament over the whole Reich and its organizations in general. The forming of state and profession chambers for the execution of the laws made by the Reich within the various states of the confederation. The leaders of the Party promise, if necessary by sacrificing their own lives, to support by the execution of the points set forth above without consideration.

Both the Nazis and the left call for an egalitarian society. For example, everyone should have access to health care. While everyone is obligated to pay their fair share (i.e., the health care mandate forcing people to buy health insurance). Both call war a crime against the people and want to confiscate war profits. Among other profits. The left wants to get rid of the profit incentive and capitalism while the Nazis wanted to just nationalize private sector industries. The Nazis wanted to get the elderly dependent on the state by expanding old age welfare. Just as the left does with Social Security and Medicare (and now Obamacare). The Nazis wanted to implement price controls to help the middle class. The left’s solution to the high cost of health care (in part) is price controls. Forcing doctors and hospitals to work for less. The Nazis wanted to severely punish those who are injurious to the state agenda. The left used the IRS and other agencies of the federal government to make life uncomfortable for those who actively oppose their agenda (case in point the recent scandals plaguing the Obama administration). The Nazis controlled education as “early as the beginning of understanding.” The left had the government take over the student loan program to get more kids into college where they can further indoctrinate them. The left controls public education. That gets out the vote to help Democrats win elections. And the left is always trying to create/expand state-run childcare. To start indoctrinating children as “early as the beginning of understanding.” The Nazis wanted to ban any free speech that did not help the general good. As the state determined what that general good was. The left marginalizes the one network (Fox) that doesn’t endorse the left’s agenda. They’ve tried to muzzle free speech on the one media outlet they did not dominate (talk radio) by trying to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. And they’ve talked about extending that to the Internet to shut down any opposition there. The Nazis called for a strong central authority with unlimited powers to protect the general interest. The left has expanded the size of the federal government under the guise to protect the general interest. And the recent scandals show the use of that growing central authority to harass and silence their political enemies. Conservatives. Who are today’s scapegoat.

JFK was more Champion of the People than Seeker of Dictatorial Power unlike Today’s Democrat Party

The Nazi party did not do well until the Great Depression. When the masses were unemployed and suffering under the war reparations of the Versailles Treaty. The people were angry. Frustrated. And felt they were suffering for the crimes of others. Then along came Adolf Hitler. And the Nazi Party. They did not let this crisis go to waste. The Nazis identified a scapegoat for all of their woes. The Jews. With a great crisis and a scapegoat the Nazis started winning elections. In 1928 the Nazis had 12 seats in the Reichstag. By September of 1930, after the pain of the Great Depression was being felt, they had 107 seats. Making them the second largest party. At the same time the Hitler Youth junior branches started indoctrinating boys and girls as young as 10. By July 1932 the Nazis were the largest party in the Reichstag. The Nazis co-ruled the country as part of a coalition government. In 1933 the Reichstag burnt down. Another crisis too good to waste. The Nazis (who probably started that fire) blamed the Communist Party (KPD). The second largest party in the Reichstag. The Nazis got the KPD banned. Giving the Nazis majority rule. They then suspended basic civil rights. Because enemies of the people were everywhere. And the government needed to protect them. Making Germany a police state. The Civil Service law of 1933 began the removal of Jews from every office. The Nazis then abolished trade unions. Forcing everyone to join the German Labor Front. Then in March 1933 the government passed the Enabling Law. Transferring legislative power to Hitler’s cabinet. Creating Hitler’s dictatorship. As the future of Germany could no longer be left to the chaos of an elected body. It needed the strong will of a charismatic leader who knew what was best for the German people. And the German people followed his will obediently. Because there were enemies all around. And they needed someone unhindered by an elected body or law to protect them.

Liberal Democrats are NOT Nazis. They have more ideological difference than they share. But they do have one thing in common with the Nazis. Their quest for power. And in that quest for power they have used some of the same techniques the Nazis used. Because all power-hungry people use these techniques. They identify an enemy (Jews/conservatives). They champion the people. And then lie through their teeth. Using their growing powers to consolidate even more power. All the while the people enthusiastically support them. Supporting the oppression of their common enemy. Until that consolidated power begins to include them in their oppression. Where all but the most devout Nazis regretted their earlier support of the Nazi Party. As it was all but the most devout Nazis that suffered from the state’s oppression.

So who was that beloved world leader that wrote so admiringly of Adolf Hitler before the outbreak of World War II? He was an American. A Democrat. Who actually went on to fight in World War II. Against the Japanese. Who went on to become president of the United States. Fierce Cold War warrior. And, surprisingly, endorsed economic policies that Ronald Reagan would one day endorse. John Fitzgerald Kennedy (see How JFK secretly ADMIRED Hitler: Explosive book reveals former President’s praise for the Nazis as he travelled through Germany before Second World War posted 5/23/2013 on the Daily Mail). Who may have had some faults. But being a Nazi wasn’t one of them. JFK may have wanted to use the power of government to make America better. But he was an old school Democrat. Who was more champion of the people than seeker of dictatorial power. Unlike today. Where it appears the Democrats in power use the IRS and other agencies of the federal government to oppress their political enemies. Conservatives. Kind of the way the Nazis oppressed their political enemies in Germany. And like the communists oppressed their political enemies in East Germany. Where our fierce Cold War warrior spat in the face of that communist oppression by proclaiming, “Ich bin ein Berline.” I am a Berliner. But today it is the Democrats that are the oppressors. Not the ones fighting against oppression.

Socialism Oppresses and Kills tens of millions of People

It’s easy to point at Cuba as an example of socialism’s failure. You don’t even have to go to the island. You don’t have to study their institutions. All you have to do is to look at the risks people will take to escape Cuba. And they take some crazy risks to escape. They will board some barely-seaworthy water crafts and paddle out into the ocean. Away from Cuba. And towards Florida. Away from socialism. And towards capitalism. Away from a wretched life of despair and deprivation. And towards a life of plenty and opportunity. As they paddle their way to America, how many people do you think they pass who are paddling their way to Cuba? How about zero? Because when it comes to refugees, the direction is always towards America. It’s never the other way.

And it’s easy to point to Mao in China. His Great Leap Forward killed a lot of his own people. And by ‘a lot’ I mean in the tens of millions. Depending on the numbers you use. It could have been anywhere between 15 and 50 million people. The Chinese communists were not the record keepers the Nazis were. Though the actual number may be in doubt the magnitude isn’t. In the spirit of brotherly love that is the hallmark of socialism, millions were beaten, tortured and killed to ‘encourage’ acceptance of the forced collectivization of farming. And the funny thing is (not ha ha funny but funny as in sad and ironic) that after beating, torturing and killing so many people to collectivize farming, the agriculture output plummeted. Partly because of bad planning. And partly due to nature. But local party officials reported record harvests to avoid beatings, torture and killings by party superiors. So China exported much of these record harvests. Leaving nothing for the peasants to eat. Resulting in famine. Again, the record keeping is sparse. As they often are when your policies end up killing your own people. But deaths were in the tens of millions. The Great Leap Forward was a big push to modernize China. To industrialize it. For there was little infrastructure in China. Most of it was rural. Dotted with peasant farms. Stretching across vast lands. With little ways to move around. Where you probably died less than a day’s walk from where you were born. Which made it difficult to escape the Great Leap Forward. Or Mao’s ruthless communist rule.

And it’s easy to point to the former Soviet Union. Where it all started. Communism. Joseph Stalin gave Mao Tse-tung a run for his money in the greatest mass murderer of all time contest. Again, the record keeping was a little sparse. But the Soviets took socialism to a grand scale. The government controlled the economy. And your life. If you grew up in the Soviet Union, you learned how much better it was there than in the decadent West. Especially the USA. Of course, when some Soviets were lucky enough to travel outside the country, they learned that their Soviet teachers were liars. The West was awesome. Never before did they see such a wonderful world of plenty. And some Soviets defected to that better life. Which was a crime. And a huge embarrassment for the Soviet Union. Even Joseph Stalin’s daughter (Svetlana Alliluyeva) defected. Others included Rudolph Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Alexander Godunov, Sergei Fedorov, Martina Navratilova, Ivan Lendl and Nadia Comăneci, to name a few (both from the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc). Some got preferential treatment to keep them from defecting like Katarina Witt. Or they held family members as ‘hostages’ when some traveled out of the country. It was a real problem for the KGB. Who had agents living undercover in the West. And a lot of them didn’t want to come home. Of course, there was no such problem with people defecting from the West into the Soviet Union. There were a few. Like Lee Harvey Oswald. But he wasn’t playing with a full deck. And he did return to the United States. Because even he found it was better in America. And he hated America.

It’s easy to point at the big socialist failures. But just about every story of socialism is a story of failure. And as different as some of the stories are, they all have much in common. In particular, the exploitation of the people to serve the state.

In Socialism, Slavery is Freedom

In George Orwell‘s Nineteen Eighty-Four, we see a frightening look at totalitarian socialism. Big Brother is the leader of an oppressive regime. Where the government plays with language to control the people. War is peace. Ignorance is strength. And freedom is slavery. War unites a people against a common enemy. Who then beg for the government to protect them from this enemy. And they will suffer through any hardship required to defeat this enemy. Which makes continued war a handy way to control the people. And to keep the peace among an unhappy and suffering citizenry that might otherwise rise up and complain. Or riot. Or attempt to overthrow the government.

Ignorance is strength. If you don’t know how rotten your existence is you have no reason to be unhappy. If you don’t know about that better life on the other side of your border, you have no reason to cross that border. You’ll stay where you are. And be a good citizen. You’ll toe the party line. Work hard. Sing party songs. And be happy. More importantly, you’ll be subdued. Easier to control. And easier to lie to. There’s a reason revolutionaries rounded up intellectuals and people with glasses (people with glasses can read and may be intellectuals) for ‘reeducation’ during revolutions. Thinkers are trouble makers. So it behooves them to keep the people ignorant. So they don’t get distracted from their patriotic duties. So they can continue to sacrifice to build a stronger nation.

Slavery is Freedom. Because slaves never have to make a decision. Or provide for themselves. What a joyous and simple life. Someone provides everything you need. Your job. Your clothes. Your food. Your home. Your health care. And your funeral. And all you have to do is give yourself to the state. Give up all your freedoms. Give up all hope. All your dreams. And all of your comforts. You have no bills to pay. Because you don’t have anything. You get up, work, eat and sleep. Simple. Easy. And carefree. True freedom. Lucky slaves.

Adolf Hitler was a Socialist

Of course, if you talk to some slaves you’ll probably hear a different story. Real slaves. Like 19th century American slaves. Those working the plantations. They didn’t all buy that ‘slavery is freedom’ line. If any did. Because a lot of them did try to escape. Just like those who tried to escape from Soviet socialism. Interestingly, there are similarities between the two. Because if you take socialism to its logical end you do arrive at slavery. Friedrich August von Hayek wrote a book about this. The Road to Serfdom. Even said that if socialism grew unchecked in a state some guy named Adolf Hitler may come along and create an oppressive state dictatorship. He didn’t quite say it like that. But a guy named Adolf Hitler did come along and created an oppressive state dictatorship called National Socialism. Or Nazism. Anyway, suffice it to say that Hayek was right. As proven by people everywhere who have tried to escape their socialist utopias.

Despite popular belief, everyone was not equal in these socialist utopias. The inner party people lived well. And their apparatchik. But little changed for the masses. In fact, life often got worse for them. They were hungry, living in crowded quarters, with poor sanitation, some without running water, living in fear of state punishment for breaking a rule or not making quota, days of endless labor, no say in your future, no liberty and little hope for a better tomorrow. Very similar to a 19th century American slave.

The American plantation is a microcosm of socialism. The few at the top did very well (the glorious leaders). Those close to them that ran the plantation (the party apparatchik) did not do as well but did much better than most. And then there were the slaves at the bottom. Who were all equal. Equally miserable. And without any hope. Living in fear of abuse for breaking a rule or not making quota. And working days of endless labor. This is socialism taken to its logical end. Which is why people risked death to escape places like the Soviet Union. East Germany. Czechoslovakia. Romania. Cuba. To escape servitude. Because the state could do anything they wanted to you. And often did. Just like a plantation overseer.

Slaves of the Social Democracies Riot

Of course, the critics will say that this isn’t true socialism. That these are just mad dictators who corrupted socialism in their quest for absolute power. And I’ll say, well, of course. You’re right. But they all used socialism in their rise to power. Not a one of them said anything about cutting taxes or reducing stifling government regulations in their climb to power. Quite the contrary. They used every facet of socialism (egalitarianism, redistribution of wealth, taxing the rich, nationalization of private companies, etc.) in their climb to power. In fact, one could say that without these tenets of socialism to unwittingly rally the people behind them they could never have risen to power. Which is why socialism is not just a Road to Serfdom. It’s a blueprint as well.

Some will roll their eyes at this. And say Europe is full if social democracies that treat their people pretty damn well. Let’s call it socialism-light. These socialist countries have large and generous social welfare programs for their people. Generous unemployment benefits. Generous vacations. Generous health care benefits. Generous pensions when they retire. Some at the ripe old age of 50. A large and generously paid public sector. Clearly these people aren’t oppressed. And I’ll agree. The people receiving these benefits are not oppressed. But it places an incredible tax burden on those who work. Who must make continuous sacrifices as their taxes continuously rise. Let’s call these people slaves-light. Because they are not allowed to enjoy the full fruits of their labor. So, yes, the people in these social democracies in general are free. And happy. When they’re not rioting, that is. Like in Greece. Again. Where the nation is broke. And had to borrow money to pay its bills. Which they have. But one of the conditions for getting these loans was to cut back on those generous benefits. Which hasn’t gone over well with the people receiving those benefits. So they rioted.

Of course they rioted because they had become slaves of the welfare state. Politicians promised them everything they wanted for their vote. And delivered. Until they could deliver no more. Having become so dependent on the state the thought of taking care of themselves frightened them so that they ran into the streets and started burning things in protest. The state had no problem keeping these people from escaping their country. Unable to take care of themselves they were afraid to leave. But the people with the jobs, and those who created the jobs, that’s a different story. They could leave. And a lot did. So the state made it as difficult as possible for their money to follow them.

You may be able to Escape the Socialist Welfare State, but your Money may Not

New York City is the financial capital of the world. For now, at least. It costs a lot to live in the city. Cost of living is high. And the taxes are higher. Way higher. Which was never a problem for rich people. Or rich companies. Rush Limbaugh did his radio program out of New York City for awhile. But he left because of the excessive taxation. Went to Florida. Where there is no income tax. But every time he traveled to New York City he was required to pay income tax on his earnings for those days in the city. The New York tax authorities put him through incredible hurdles to prove when he was out of the city. Showing in multiple ways that he was, in fact, living in Florida. With receipts. Phone bills. Etc. They put the onus on him. Said he owed the tax unless he could prove otherwise.

Then came the subprime mortgage crisis that gave us the worst recession since the Great Depression. Wall Street income fell. As did New York City and New York state tax receipts. People moved out of the city. Out of the state. Worked out of their homes. Some did no work in the state but still kept a vacation home on Long Island. Desperate for money and unable to keep these people from escaping the state, the taxing authority went after their income. Said if they spent any time in the state they owed income taxes for the entire year. Even if you only vacationed for two weeks on Long Island. While paying the taxes in the state you actually live and work in. This was worse than taxation without representation. It was double taxation. In addition to taxation without representation.

New York City is generous with their social benefits. Call it socialism-light. It’s not all out socialism. But it still suffers from the same fatal flaw. It doesn’t work well if the people can escape this socialist utopia. Especially the ones paying the taxes. As is happening in the social democracies in Europe. And anywhere where there is high taxation without a secured border. To prevent the taxpayers (i.e., best and brightest) from escaping. Like the Soviets did to keep their best and brightest from escaping. As did the East Germans. The Czechoslovakians. The Romanians. And the Cubans.

The Bolshevik Revolution Gave Russian Peasants Freedom. And Famine.

Russia was one of the most backward nations at the turn of the 20th century. Feudalism was still the economic model. The only European nation still using it. There were two Russias. Hungry and impoverished peasants. And a rich and well-fed ruling elite. Then World War I came. Russia bled on the Eastern Front. There was a lot of discontent. Germany took advantage of this by returning the exiled Vladimir Lenin to Russia via Germany. And it worked. Marxist revolutionary fervor forced Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate. Russia pulled out of the war. Lenin led the Marxist Bolshevik Revolution against capitalism. White and Red Russia plunged into civil war. And a few assassination attempts later, Joseph Stalin launched the Red Terror to kill all enemies of the Soviet state. Including the Romanov family. When Lenin died, Stalin consolidated his power. Through terror. And he would rule by terror.

With capitalism suppressed, Stalin was ready to build the new socialist/communist state. He industrialized the state (with foreign engineering and machinery). He collectivized farms to increase output. Soviet industry made a great leap forward. But the cost was devastating. Famine. Forced deportations. Terror. Millions died. And the quality of life for the common Russian peasant went into the toilet. Anyone who complained was an enemy of the state. There were chronic grain shortages. Which were blamed on farmers hiding grain to force prices higher. The solution? Stalin deported or executed these farmers as enemies of the state. But they never found any ‘hidden’ grain.

Dictators rise to power through terror and violence. And they hold power by even more terror and violence. To silence their enemies. These enemies of the state. You see, if you disagree with the dictator, you disagree with the state. For they are one and the same. So they get a little testy when their policies fail. They blame others. Attack those who are clinging to capitalism and liberty. Who don’t submit themselves completely to the state. And herein lies their fatal flaw. Slaves don’t willingly work for the greater good. They only do the bare minimum to minimize their pain and suffering. Either the work or the state will kill them. They know that. So they work hard enough to keep the state from killing them. But not too hard that the work does. It’s a bleak world. But that is the life of the slave.

China’s Great Leap Forward Resulted in Even Greater Famines

The communist/socialist movement spilled over into China from Russia. Mao Tse-tung rose to power much like Stalin. Ruthlessly. He industrialized China. And collectivized their farms into giant collective communes. He forced peasant farmers into these communes. Which lowered the quality of life for millions. The result? China’s industrial output did increase. But, like in Russia, the cost was devastating.

The Great Leap Forward was their second five-year plan. The plan was to increase grain harvests by using the power of the state to collectivize and direct giant farming communes. Party members (i.e., career politicians who kissed communist ass) ran these communes. They reported to Mao. None of them were farmers, though. But they acted like they were. Trying some screwy new ideas that only reduced the harvest. But, being good party men, they lied. They reported record harvests. As the lying went up the party chain of bureaucracy, party leaders made decisions based on the lie. They took so much of the harvest for party members, cities and for export that the peasant farmers working on the communes starved in history’s greatest famines. Note that ‘famines’ is plural. Yeah, it was that bad. Tens of millions starved to death. All in the name of helping the poor and oppressed.

Everyone lives in fear in a totalitarian state. Even members in the ruling elite. The communes were supposed to increase the harvest. So those responsible for that increase lied. To minimize their own pain and suffering. For they knew if they failed the greater common good, the state would come after them. So they protected themselves. At the expense of the peasant. The life of the peasant/proletariat only got worse. The Bolshevik Revolution was supposed to free them from the oppression of the bourgeois capitalists. It only oppressed them more.

Using Capitalism to Attack Capitalism

The socialists/communists learned some valuable lessons. Although they may be good at terror and violence, they didn’t have any real talent or ability. And though they hate capitalism (because they lack any real talent or ability), they understood that they needed capitalists to be their bitch. They couldn’t kill them. Because if they did, nothing would get done. No wealth created. And they needed these people to create wealth. Because they can’t take wealth if the wealth creators don’t create it. With no wealth to take, they have nothing to give the masses. To keep them dependent. And subdued. So this was the next phase in the socialist/communist revolution. To exploit the wealth creators for state gain.

The social democracies followed the same general plan. Attack capitalism. Oppress the poor by making them dependent on the state. But instead of using physical fear and intimidation, they used psychological fear and intimidation. At election time. They, the compassionate state, wanted to give them stuff. The mean, cold-hearted capitalists wanted to take away their Social Security. Eat their children. And other nasty things. It worked. It got votes.

The problem they ran into was that populations grow. And costs go up. That meant the social democracies had to give more and more people these ‘benefits’. While at the same time the costs of these ‘benefits’ kept going up. And herein lies their fatal flaw. To keep the people dependent (and docile) you have to keep raising taxes. But if you raise taxes too much, you kill the golden goose. Because you can push the wealth producers only so far. If the state makes them work harder for less so others can enjoy the fruit of their labors, the state is for all intents and purposes enslaving these wealth producers. And what do we know about slaves? They don’t willingly work for the greater good. They do the bare minimum to minimize their pain and suffering.

Communist China Concerned About the United States’ Anti-Capitalistic Behavior

There are all sorts of ways they can do this. If the cost of hiring employees is too great, businesses will hire fewer employees. If taxes are too high, people will cut back on their spending and businesses will lay off workers because of the weaker demand. If the investment climate is too unfavorable (say, because of a high capital gains tax), investors will invest their money where the climate is more favorable (and not create jobs). If taxes get too high, the economy will go underground where people pay no taxes. As more of this happens, the government collects less and less in taxes. They get to a point where they simply can’t raise them anymore. So they borrow. And when they borrow to excess and cannot borrow any more, they have to do the unthinkable. Cut the benefits that have so successfully enslaved so many people to the government. And when governments try, the enslaved fight back.

Following the financial crisis of 2008, some debt-ridden nations tried to do just that. Cut benefits to avoid bankruptcy. Greece tried. France, too. Both had riots. Other nations are at the tipping point. Great Britain is making draconian cuts that the people aren’t too happy with. Ireland is staring down bankruptcy and may need a Greece-like bailout. (Interestingly, Ireland’s problems don’t stem from a fat social welfare state. Their troubles resulted from a real estate bubble fueled by the European Central Bank keeping interest rates low. They, like the U.S., saw no downside in cheap, risky mortgages.) And, of course, Communist China is lecturing the United States about the evils of currency devaluation as a solution to our problems. Which we’re doing. In a last-ditch attempt to stimulate our economy. A weaker dollar would help. It would make our exports cheaper. And make our massive debt cheaper to pay off. Which really concerns the Chinese as they’re holding the majority of that debt. So they are not going to sit idly by while we slash the value of their U.S. holdings. They’ll fight back. And do whatever it takes (capital controls, tariffs, etc.) to protect their investment.

Whether by physical fear and intimidation or by bribery and deceit, socialism ends the same. In failure. For it to work people have to work hard so others can live better. And people just don’t willingly submit to slavery. When they’re forced into it, they do the bare minimum to minimize their pain and suffering. And when people do, the economy will never reach its full potential. Which is why the United States won the Cold War. Capitalism encourages people to do their best. Socialism encourages them to do the least they can get away with. And you just don’t achieve greatness with mediocrity.

So what was the deal with these two Founding Fathers? Why did they hate each other so? They were exceptionally bright, among the best read of the founders. They each had impeccable revolutionary credentials. And, prior to 1787, they had similar visions for their new country. So what happened?

Despite their similarities, they were two very different men. Hamilton was a bastard child whose father left him at a young age. His life was hard. He had a job while still a child. Anything he had he had to earn. Jefferson, on the other hand, was born into the planter elite of Virginia. His life was not quite so hard.

A bit shy, Jefferson buried himself in books. He loved to read. And to think. To ponder the great questions of life. While Hamilton worked in and learned the import/export business in the Caribbean. As Jefferson pondered about what might be, Hamilton mastered commerce. Understood capitalism. Pondered what was. And could be. If he ever got off of that godforsaken island.

Eventually, he did. He came to the colonies and went to college. And gave Jefferson a run for his money in the smarts department. And in one area, he simply left Jefferson in the dust. Hamilton could understand things if you put dollar signs in front of them. Jefferson could not. For all his genius, Jefferson couldn’t make a buck. He was forever in debt. Because he struggled in these areas, he distrusted banking and commerce. And the big cities that they corrupt. Hamilton, though, understood banking and commerce. He understood capitalism. And what it could do.

Thus the divide between these two men. Hamilton, a champion of capitalism. And Jefferson, a champion of the yeoman farmer (a farmer who owns and works his own land.). Of course, Jefferson was anything but a yeoman farmer. He had others (i.e., slaves) work his land. Here he was like the contemporary liberal. Do as I say. Not as I do. For wealth and luxury obtained from the labors of others is okay for me and my fellow planter elite. But not for you. Especially when the ‘black arts’ of commerce and banking are concerned.

London, Paris/Versailles and Madrid

The old world capitals had many things in common. They were the homes of powerful monarchies. They were the financial capitals of their countries. And they caused a lot of mischief in the world. Jefferson saw the connection between money and power. More money, more power. More power, more mischief. Another good reason to hate commerce and banking in Jefferson’s book.

Of course, Hamilton saw it differently. He saw one empire in ascent. And two in descent. And it was no coincidence that the better practitioner of capitalism was also the empire in ascent. Great Britain. He may have fought against her in the Revolutionary War, but he still admired her. Where Jefferson feared the combination of money and power, Hamilton saw the Royal Navy. Great wooden walls (as John Adams called them) that had protected the empire since she became an empire. Grew her empire. Increased her wealth. And her power. In fact, losing her British colonies was the only real defeat this empire had suffered.

When the Founding Fathers looked west they saw great potential. Jefferson saw farms. Hamilton saw empire. One greater than Great Britain. For after all, the Americans did what no other European nation could. They defeated her in war and took huge chunks of her empire. (Of course, our Revolutionary War was but one theater in a world war Great Britain was fighting at that time.) Hamilton saw great potential for his new nation. If only business and government partnered to harness that great potential.

Money + Power = Corruption

When business partners with government we don’t get capitalism. We get mercantilism. Or crony capitalism. But you have to understand things were different in Hamilton’s day. A good politician then went to great lengths NOT to profit from his time in public service. It was expected. Selfless disinterest. In fact, it was unseemly to even campaign for public office. That was just something a gentleman of the Enlightenment wouldn’t do. And if anything was important in those days, it was showing how much a gentleman of the Enlightenment you were.

That said, business partnering with government would NOT lead to corruption. At least, in Hamilton’s eyes. With the right men in power, only good would result. Though Jefferson, too, was a gentleman of the Enlightenment, he had no such faith in government. To him, it was simple arithmetic (as long as there were no dollar signs involved):

Money + Power = Corruption

So the new American capital wouldn’t be in a big American city. Not in New York City. Not in Philadelphia. It would be in a swamp. On the Potomac. In Virginia’s backyard. So Jefferson and his planter elite brethren could make sure the new American government would speak with a southern accent. So much for that enlightened disinterest.

Both Right. Both Wrong.

No man is perfect. Not even me. No, really. It’s true. I’m not. And neither were Hamilton nor Jefferson. Hamilton may have wanted to conquer the world. And Jefferson may have been such a good liar that he even fooled himself. But the Hamilton treasury department gave this nation international respectability and allowed her to service her debt. Which allowed her to borrow. Which allowed her to survive. And Jefferson fully understood what Lord Acton would say a century later: Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

However benign a government may be, however it may look out after the people’s interests, government is still a body of men. Jefferson understood this. The Founding Generation was special. They knew it. They knew they were making history. But were they unique? Would this moment of selfless disinterest in time prove to be fleeting? (As it turned out, yes.) And, if so, what would happen to later generations? When men of lesser character assume offices of sweeping powers? What then? Well, they would abuse their power. So what to do?

Simple. You prevent such a scenario from happening. By not giving government sweeping powers. And by not letting them accumulate great wealth. Because bad things happen when you do.

The French Revolution

France was the cradle of the Enlightenment. In the 18th century, anyone who mattered spoke French. France was the dominate European power. And some in France lived very well. Most did not. The majority were still feudal peasants. Or poor laborers, artisans and craftsmen. And they were hungry. Poor. And without breeches (those fancy knee-length pants the rich people wore).

While the sans-culottes (those without breeches) went without, the king, nobles and clergy were living large. All the wealth of the largest European country was concentrated in their few hands. As was the power. And, of course, you add money and power and what do you get? That’s right. Corruption. Add to that some crop failures and you get a very unhappy population. Who overthrow the monarchy. Execute their king. And his queen. And quite a few others before they stopped the bloodletting.

Note that France’s troubles were the result of the money combining with the power. The French monarchy incurred a huge debt fighting their perpetual war (it seemed) with Great Britain. At the end of the world war that included the American Revolution, both saw those great debts grow larger. Great Britain, an advanced capitalist nation, was able to service her debt and get on with the business of empire. France, still fundamentally feudal, could not. This great nation that had sparked the modern age could not even feed her own people. She had taken all her people could give. And her people could give no more.

Beware the Do-Gooder

The downfall of most nations results from this combination of money and state power. This is an ideology that history has proven a failure. The more money the state accumulates, the more it can do. And the less you can do. You go with less. And the state causes greater hardships for everyone. It can go to war. Which it can lose. Or prolong. Hitler started out strong but the German people paid a steep price in the long run. The allied bombers destroyed their homes. And killed their families and neighbors. While the allied armies killed their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons. And those Germans who unfortunately fell within Soviet controlled territory after the war faced possible retribution for the crimes their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons committed against the soviet people. In that hell on earth know as the Eastern Front.

But war is not the only mischief a state can do. They can build opulent palaces (like at Versailles). Or they can create a welfare state. Where they get as many people as possible dependent on the state. And the more they do, the more wealth the state transfers from the private sector to the public sector. The state does well. Especially the inner-party members. The few who control the wealth. And what happens in the long run? The state gets richer and the people get poorer. Just like they did in pre-revolutionary France. In pre-revolutionary Tsarist Russia. And, ironically, the state that replaced Tsarist Russia; the Soviet Union. Communist China. Cuba. North Korea. Peron’s Argentina. Idi Amin’s Uganda. Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Etc.

Whenever the government has large amounts of money and power, they rarely do good things. What typically happens is that the ruling elite live well while the masses suffer. And they use fear, intimidation, torture and execution to maintain their power. What a nation chooses depends on how much they care what the free world thinks of them. The Communists cared little so they used more brutal force. Social democracies do care. So theirs is a much softer tyranny. These people don’t use force. They seduce with promises of free stuff and a better life. Which they never deliver. Well, not to the people. They do deliver it to those who hold power.

You Get What You Pay For

It’s bad when we don’t learn from world history. It’s especially sad when we don’t learn from our own history. We know what works. And what hasn’t. Wilson’s progressivism didn’t work. FDR’s New Deal didn’t work. LBJ’s Great Society didn’t work. These administrations just transferred more money from the private sector to the public sector. Money plus power equals corruption. And these administrations were rife with corruption. When we suffered the stagflation of the 1970s, those in power were still living large. But we never learn, do we?

The Obama administration is transferring more money from the private sector to the public sector than any other previous administration. Our national debt will exceed our gross national product (GDP). For all intents and purposes, it will be permanent. All subsequent generations will work more and more just to service this massive debt. And pay for all that ‘free stuff’ we were promised. Sure, we’ll have free health care. It just won’t be any good. Nothing free is. The free toy in a box of cereal is never as good as the toy you pay for. Because you get what you pay for. And if the government is going to give everyone free health care, it will have to be ‘free toy inside a cereal box’ quality health care. For the same reason they don’t put expensive toys in cereal boxes. If you give something to everyone, you have to give everyone less. It’s the only way you can afford to give something to everyone. You have to give everyone crap.

These things have never worked. Nor will they. Ever. Even if the United States does them. Because bad ideology is just bad ideology. No matter how great the nation is that tries it.

For inner-party members, perhaps. For us regular party members, though, not a whole lot has changed. But we don’t complain. We continue to drink our Victory Gin and praise Big Brother. Because we don’t want to be summoned to the Ministry of Love and feel the wrath of the state. Or be audited by the IRS.

Of course, the proles, the masses, get to indulge in their pornography, drugs, music, prostitution, alcohol, cigarettes and other crimethink. Anything to quell the unruly masses. The lucky bastards. Well, the ones not sent to joycamps, at least. A few privations will always trump forced labor in my book.

The purpose of Newspeak in Oceania is twofold. First it provides a political correct language to communicate in. And, second, this simplified language simplifies the people so they’re little more than automatons of the state. Makes it easier for the state to lie. To twist the meaning of words. To change their meaning. And to change history.

Unemployment is higher today than it was during the Bush administration. But we’re not going to return to the failed policies of the past. Things are better today and moving in the right direction. Loyal party members believe this. They know this. This is blackwhite. To believe in things that contradict. The bad economy of today is better than the good economy of the Bush administration. Despite what the numbers say. Or until the numbers can be revised to agree with the new truth. This is the power of Newspeak.

War is Peace

In the past it took a constant state of war to consume the economic output so everyone had less. Everyone was equal (other than inner-party members who were more equal than others). Everyone was poor. Lived in fear. And sacrificed. For the common enemy. Today, we don’t need constant war. We have the welfare state. The war on poverty. Which consumes the economic output. And makes us dependent on the state. Where we live in fear of losing our benefits. And shared sacrifice leaves everyone with less. For the common good. Except, of course, the inner-party members.

Freedom is Slavery

Imagine a world where you never have to worry or think about where to work, finding healthcare, what to wear, where to live, what movies to watch, what music to listen to, what books to read, what cable news program to watch, what websites to visit or what to do with your spare time (because you won’t have any). This is true freedom. Freedom from choice. You will never have to think again. Or provide for yourself. Because to be a slave is to be truly free.

Ignorance is Truth

What you don’t know can’t hurt you. Obedience to the state is easy when you don’t question what they tell you. When everything you hear is the truth. And it is if you don’t know any better. The era of Reagan is over. Trickledown economics doesn’t work. And if you don’t look at the numbers and see the robust economic health of the Reagan years, it is easy to accept the lie. If you don’t know the truth then you accept what they tell you as the truth. And you become good party members.

Newspeak Today

This word play doesn’t only exist in George Orwell’s classic book 1984 or in totalitarian regimes. It exists wherever states want to revise history. To alter your perception. The way you think. To bring you more into the party fold. The latest is the revision of ‘global warming’ to ‘global climate disruption’ as noted in White House: Global Warming Out, ‘Global Climate Disruption’ In on the FOX News website. To try and rescue a favored liberal cause from ridicule and charges of junk science it receives today. Past examples of Newspeak include the following revisions: ‘terrorism’ to ‘man-caused disaster’; ‘war on terror’ to ‘overseas contingency operation’; and now that the Left wants to extend the Bush tax cuts, these have been revised from ‘tax cuts for the rich’ to ‘middle-class tax cuts’.

For further study on revisionism and abuses of state power, you can read 1984, watch the movie or follow the Obama administration.